7c. Identification and Education of Children with Special Needs

7c Describe how the unit will
ensure that candidates in all teaching fields will complete 3 or more semester
hours or the equivalent in the identification and education of children who
have special needs.

The unit ensures that the teacher candidate completes 3 semester hours in the identification and education of children who have special needs in EDU 468, Exceptional Learners. EDU 468 is required for the teacher candidate majoring in Early Childhood Education, Middle Grades Education, and Secondary English or Secondary Mathematics Education Bachelor Degree Programs, and Post Baccalaureate Certification Middle Grades and Secondary English or Secondary Mathematics programs and is taken in Professional Core II. This required course is designed to build the knowledge base of the teacher candidate to enable them to teach students with exceptionalities. Principles, concepts, and practices for effective teachers working with students with exceptionalities are developed. This course requires that teacher candidate:

Become
familiar with current laws concerning students with special needs including
those with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, definitions and
identification procedures, criteria for identification, issues with labeling
learners and prevalence figures.

Identify
physical, cultural, cognitive, emotional and social needs of individuals
without or with identified exceptionalities.

Discuss
the need and importance of safe, supportive positive learning environments in
which all learners /exceptionalities, diversities are valued.

Discuss
and utilize instructional and remedial methods including technology to develop
the skills of individuals with identified special needs as well as all
learners.

Discuss
the curricula, materials and techniques for the positive development of
exceptional learners.